Geography:

• Location:
  • Island in the West Indies in the Caribbean Sea, near the Paraguaná Peninsula of Venezuela; and integral part of the Netherlands. In 1986 Aruba separated from The Netherlands Antilles and has received a status apart within the Kingdom of Holland.
• Area:
  • Total: 193 sq km
  • Water: 0 sq km
  • Land: 193 sq km
• Maritime Claims:
  • Coastline: 68.5 km
  • Territorial sea: 12 NM
• Natural Resources:
  • NEGL; white sandy beaches

People:

• Population: 70,844 (July 2003 est.)
• Nationality: Noun: Aruban(s); Adjective: Aruban; Dutch
• Ethnic groups: mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 80%
• Religions: Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu, Muslim, Confucian, Jewish
• Languages: Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, English dialect), English (widely spoken), Spanish

Government:

• Country name: Aruba (conventional short form)
• Dependency status: part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from the Netherlands Antilles; Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreign affairs
• Government type: parliamentary democracy
• Capital: Oranjestad
• Administrative divisions: none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
• International organization participation: Caricom (observer), ECLAC (associate), Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), WCL, WToO (associate)

Economy:

• Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.2% (2002 est.)
• Industries: tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining
• Agriculture - products: aloes; livestock; fish
• Exports: $1.88 billion f.o.b. (including oil reexports) (2002 est.)
• Exports - commodities: live animals and animal products, art and collectibles, machinery and electrical equipment, transport equipment
• Imports: $2.21 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
• Imports - commodities: machinery and electrical equipment, crude oil for refining and reexport, chemicals; foodstuffs
• Currency: Aruban guilder/florin (AWG)

Institutional Structure:

National Focal Point for IOCARIBE

Mr Marck Oduber

Director Meteorological Department

Ministry of Tourism Transportation & Labour

Sabana Berne 73-B, Aruba

Tel: (297) 5826497 Fax: (297) 5837328

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